CABI is a partner in the ACAI project, which aims to facilitate the use of decision support tools for farmers, with a focus on women farmers and extension agents. As part of this work, CABI is helping to establish cassava clusters in target countries by bringing together stakeholders along the cassava value chain. At a recent cluster forum meeting, gaps in knowledge products and information were identified, dissemination pathways and partners were discussed, and priority activities for the next eight months were outlined, including developing fertilizer recommendations, variety characteristics, success stories, and extension support materials. Moving forward, the project will work on finalizing and deploying initial extension messages, monitoring cluster campaign effectiveness, and determining what information is ready for disse

1. James Watiti, Christine AlokitJames Watiti, Christine Alokit
Update on Cassava Clusters Development
Presented at the First Annual Review and Planning Workshop
December 5 – 7, 2016, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria

2. CABI improves people’s lives worldwide by providing
information and applying scientific expertise to solve
problems in agriculture and the environment

3. CABI as a partner in ACAI
Work Stream 4, of ACAI aims to facilitate the use of the
decision support tools within the dissemination networks of
primary partners of the project and beyond with specific
attention given to the direct engagement of women farmers
and extension agents.

4.  Cassava clusters established with engagement of all major
stakeholders operating within cassava value chains in the target
countries (led by the Africa Soil Health Consortium).
 Exposing project tools, and recommendations to such partners is
required to create impact at farmer level beyond the direct
beneficiaries engaged through the dissemination networks of
the primary partners.
CABI as a partner in ACAI

5. Main areas of work from Year 1
• Implementation of a Cluster scoping survey, aimed at
identification of common thematic streams and building a priority
list of cluster champions in cassava value chain
• Organization of cassava Cluster planning forums

6. What we have done so far…
• Participate in project inception and launch in April 2015, and January2016
• Partner scoping meetings in June, July 2016 in Nigeria and Tanzania,
covering CAVAII, Notore, FUNAAB, TFNC, Minjingu, IITA, MEDA, FCI,
2SCALE/IFDC, Psaltry, Ministry of Agric
• Hold the 1st
ACAI cluster forum meeting – Abuja, Nigeria – 12-14 October
2016
• Work with ACAI Tanzania team and partners in write-shop to develop draft
extension support materials in partnership with ASHC and UPTAKE project –
Morogoro- 14-18 Nov. 2016

7. 1st
ACAI cluster Forum Meeting- Abuja -12-14 October 2016
 Involved various stakeholders (ACAI primary partners, Ministry,
fertilizer producers, Development partners, Cassava planting
material dealers, Agrochemical dealers, Farmers association,
Extension service agents, Media)
 Identified critical gaps in knowledge products and information
 Reviewed existing information and knowledge dissemination materials
 Identified appropriate dissemination pathways and key dissemination
partners
 Define project clusters and operation modalities: identified key elements
of effective campaigns
 Identified priority activities for the next 8 months

8. Priority Activities identified at 1st
cluster meeting
ACAI team to have zero draft of cassava technology brief in 2016 and will have
information for version one by June 2017 based on results from the trials. The zero
draft will be considered as information baseline status:
•The cluster campaigns to apply a multi-prong approach in dissemination of
information
•ASHC to participate in study to assess farmers' perception on the effect of
fertilizer on cassava quality and preference for human consumption
•Package cassava varieties characteristics for extension staff
•Compile all existing fertilizer trial recommendations from existing fertilizer
companies
•Package a communication tool (fact sheet) for developed fertilizer
recommendations available for dissemination to extension agents, and
processors
•Develop a fact sheet and short videos of success stories of yield increase of
using fertilizer in cassava farm

9. Drafting Extension Support Materials - Morogoro Tanzania – 14-
 ACAI team involved in reviewing the
technology brief for key messages
 ACAI partners, CAVAII and ministry
involved in write-shop activity to
produce extension support
materials focusing GAP messages
for eastern and lake zone
 Draft materials ready for pretesting
in December 2016 & dissemination
in 2017 campaign in partnership
with ICT Challenge Fund (UPTAKE)
project

10. Defining the cluster: A scenario
 Operational structure of the cluster (Value chain, geography,
Use case)
 Identification of communication channels
 Development of information materials/tools/products
 Dissemination/campaign approach (Print materials, Radio, TV,
SMS, interpersonal, video)
 Monitoring and Evaluation of cluster campaign effectiveness

11. Some challenges and looking ahead
 Operational structure of the cluster (Value chain, geography,
Use case)
 Agreeing and deploying version zero extension support
messages for critical areas such as Fertilizer use ,
intercropping, scheduled planting.
 Monitoring and Evaluation of successful campaign work with
the clusters
 What information is ready for dissemination in 2017-2018?

12. Thank you for your attention